Can You Have Wood Floors in a Bathroom?

Hardwood flooring can be a beautiful choice for a bathroom floor. However, it comes with certain conditions, so to say.

Wood floors in a bathroom can be more susceptible to the damaging effects of moisture. This is probably the biggest issue that comes to mind.

However, a hardwood bathroom floor can be a gorgeous and practical design choice if installed and maintained correctly.

Let’s face it. A bathroom with wood floors will definitely look cosy, warm, natural and inviting.

Therefore, wherever there’s a case for aesthetics, there’s a solution, like specific treatments to reduce water damage. So, if you want to have hardwood in your bathroom, follow these tips to ensure it stays in the best possible condition.

How to seal wood floors in a bathroom?

One of the most important things when choosing the right bathroom flooring is sealing your wood floor correctly.

As bathrooms are wet environments, you need to protect your floor with a waterproof seal. A finishing agent can be used to create an invisible barrier between wood and water. Use a polyurethane-based sealer and apply it several times.

Pay special attention to seams and joints. You can use a special elastic joint to seal the edges of the floor, preventing water from seeping in.

Choose types of wood that react only marginally to moisture. Oak is probably the best hardwood flooring for bathroom. An oak floor in the bathroom is more suitable than maple or beech because it can take humidity better and also because the grading is much quieter, not allowing water to penetrate the wood through big knots or cracks.

You might be tempted to choose treated decking wood, but keep in mind that decking is an outside surface. This means it could have been treated with a powerful chemical composition that could emit dangerous levels of chemicals if mounted inside.

If you want a safer solution, pick a design that uses a bathroom hardwood floor in combination with tiles. You could use the tiles in the most problematic areas, like the sinks, toilet or shower, and the hardwood in the rest of the bathroom.

Wood flooring and bathroom waterproofing

In its natural state, wood is an absorbent material. It can warp, stain and expand if not treated correctly. Hardwood like classic dark oak or walnut is a much better choice than softer woods like pine. This is due to their dense grain, which makes them less absorbent and thus less prone to water damage.

When it comes to wood floors in bathrooms, you can use a dehumidifier or moisture traps to keep dampness and mildew to a minimum. It is also a good idea to try and reduce spills and splashes with rugs.

Use oil or lacquer to waterproof the wood by closing all the pores and cracks. Oil is a good waterproofing agent that can permeate the wood surface and act as a barrier against liquids. In the meantime, wood can still continue to breathe and absorb a little bit of the humidity in the room.

So, if you use these methods to waterproof the hardwood floors in the bathroom and make sure you regularly check and renew the sealing agents, you can have the beautiful bathroom you have always dreamt of.

But let us teach you one last trick. It’s called the water drop test and you can carry it out at regular intervals. So, let a few drops of water fall on the bathroom wood and if it remains there without penetrating the wood, the floor is perfect. If it is absorbed quickly, then you should consider reoiling the whole floor.

Advantages of hardwood in a bathroom

Though high-maintenance, hardwood bathroom flooring remains popular because of its stunning look and longevity.

Hardwood flooring in a bathroom is a much more natural and mature alternative to tiles or linoleum. Although they might not be the best choice for family bathrooms used by children, they are a stunning interior choice for guest bathrooms or en-suites.

Wooden floors are incredibly versatile and go with a wide range of interior design schemes. If you keep your floor adequately maintained, it can last for years.

Bathrooms can often seem cold and clinical with all-white tiles. A wooden floor provides warmth and texture to a room that often needs it. The classic, timeless appeal and stunning natural beauty of wooden floors in the bathroom are almost unparalleled.

The bathroom can be a gorgeous, relaxing oasis of calm. Use natural materials like oak and linen to create a bathroom that feels like a luxury spa. 

Can You Use Engineered Wood Flooring in a Bathroom?

Engineered wood flooring is easily the best choice when it comes to wood floors in the bathroom, and this is why.

The secret lies in its structure, which offers more stability and resistance to moisture. Engineered wood is essentially made of multiple layers of wood glued together to form a sturdy and robust surface. Only the top layer is real wood veneer. Compared to hardwood floors in the bathroom, engineered wood flooring in the bathroom is more resistant to cupping and buckling. Besides, it looks almost as authentic and elegant as natural wood. 

Wood Floors in the Bathroom – Maintenance Guide

Because wooden floors are vulnerable to water damage, they need a little bit of extra care and attention than other bathroom flooring options.

When choosing the right bathroom flooring, you should know the maintenance necessary to keep your floor in the best condition possible. It is essential to keep your bathroom plumbing well maintained, so the risk of flooding is reduced. Look out for any drips or leaky pipes, especially valve connections beneath a pedestal sink or toilet.

Watch out for condensation around cold water lines too. It is also important to clean up any spills as soon as they happen. Simple steps like standing on a bathmat after a shower and making sure you turn off the taps can all help protect a bathroom hardwood floor.

Be careful with chemical cleaners or products in the bathroom which can be acidic. These can stain the wood or eat through the waterproof coating so keep them tidied away.  

Installing wood floors in the bathroom

So, can you put wood floors in a bathroom? We believe this whole article answered your question. Yes!

Wood floors in the bathroom are not as popular as tiles because they’re high-maintenance and most people just don’t want to bother. But if you want, you can install wood floors in the bathroom.

The installation is of the utmost importance. It is worth getting a professional to make sure there are no leaks or gaps. 

Sealing is crucial, also levelling. If your bathroom floor slopes, water can pool in lower areas. These moisture pools can damage wooden floors so consider getting your floor levelled before installing a hardwood floor.

To find the best flooring for the bathroom, talk to a specialist hardwood flooring provider; we help you choose the best wooden floor for your needs and can recommend treatments for protecting the floor too. When properly looked after and well-maintained, wood floors in the bathroom can last for years.